Packaging machine



J. H. YERKEY Sept. 19, 1967 PACKAG I NG MACHI NE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 15 1964 INVENTOR John H. Yerkey ATTORNEY Sept. 19, 1%? J. H. YERKEY PACKAGING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. l5, 1964 INV ENT OR Jam Yrkey Sept 39, 1967 J. H. YERKEY PACKAGING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 15, 1964 mvsmon Jaim H. Yrlwy ATTORNEY J. H. YERKEY PACKAGING MACHINE Sept 19, 1967 INVENTOR Jafm H. Yerkay- BY g 7V 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec. 15 1964 ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,342,017 PACKAGING MACHINE John H. Yerkey, 3005 Ailsa Ave., Baltimore, Md. 21214 Filed Dec. 15, 1964, Ser. No. 418,462 10 Claims. (Cl. 53255) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An apparatus is provided for encasing an article in a tubular wrapper, the apparatus having a drawsleeve for containing the article and fitting within the tubular wrapper, a support on which to rest the wrapping end of the drawsleeve, a pivotal support for the opposite end of the drawsleeve so that the drawsleeve can be pivoted away from the rest support to facilitate moving the tubular wrapper along the drawsleeve, with said opposite end of the drawsleeve having rollers mounted thereon and with the pivotal support including rollers which embrace the drawsleeve rollers to prevent longitudinal movement of the drawsleeve.

This invention relates generally to the art of packaging. More particularly, this invention pertains to a machine for encasing elongated articles in a slip-over wrapper.

Many articles of merchandise are difiicult to wrap be cause they are too long for standard widths of wrapping stock. In such circumstances, the articles are usually encased longitudinally in the wrapper stock. In either case, there always results an unsightly seam which distracts from the appearance of the package.

A seamless (or neatly factory seamed) tubing stock of plastic and the like is available in rolls for the packaging industry. This, however, is very difiicult to draw over an elongated article of much length and yet have a close fit. Consequently, such tubing stock has been mainly used for small packets.

It is an object of this invention, therefore, to provide an arrangement for rapidly encasing elongated objects with a close fitting tubular wrapper from a continuous roll of stock.

Another object of this invention is to provide an anchored drawsleeve applicator to facilitate the encasement of an article with a close fitting tubular wrapping stocking wherein the drawsleeve is held against moving longitudinally with the drawing force.

Another object of this invention is to provide an anchored internal dilater for expanding continuously moving tubular stock.

Other objects and attendant advantages of this invention will become more readily apparent and understood from the following detailed specification and the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a packaging machine incorporating features of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a left end elevation of the framework of the machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged detail view of the material guide assembly viewed in the direction of the arrows 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged detail view of a stockspool assembly;

FIG. 5 is a vertical section of the control center assembly taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 6 is a horizontal section, somewhat enlarged, taken on line 66 of FIG. 5 showing details of the drawsleeve head;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of the control center with 3,342,917 Patented Sept. 19, 1967 the head shown in an operative position therein and the spreader omitted for clarity;

FIG. 8 is a view of the control center above showing its swivel mount and the removable upper roller mount; and

FIG. 9 is a longitudinal section, through the right end portion of the drawsleeve illustrating the use of the finger notch for withdrawal of wrapper sleeve with the article.

Referring now to the details of the drawings as depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2, it will be noted the packaging machine of this invention consists of a pipe frame 10 which stands with adjustable feet 12 on a base 14. At one end of this frame 10, members 16 extend to support a roll of flattened tubular encasing stock 18 on a pair of journals 20.

The stock 18 unwinds from a split spool assembly 42, as indicated in FIG. 4, as it is used and passes over a guide assembly 22 clamped to a support 24. A pair of spaced check plates 26 are mounted on the side pieces 28 of the guide assembly 22 as shown best in FIG. 3. These keep the stock 18 centered on the roller 30 and guide it over the head end 32 of a drawsleeve assembly 34.

A yoke 36 of the frame 10 supports one end of the drawsleeve assembly 34 by means of a swiveled'control center 38. The other end of the drawsleeve rests on a Y-shaped support 40 at the other end of the frame 10.

The stock 18 may be of any tubular material but transparent plastic is preferred for neat packaging. The stock 18 is obtained flattened and in large rolls. These are placed on the spool assembly 42 by loosening a clamp 44 on one spool half 46, and sliding it off of the hollow axle 48. When re-assembled, the spool assembly 4 2 and roll of stock rotates on a shaft 50 extending through the journals 20 and the hollow axle 48.

With reference now to FIGS. 5 and 6, the drawsleeve assembly 34 consists of the previously mentioned head end 32 secured to a larger diameter polished thin wall tube 52 by means of a smoothly rounded reducing adapter 55.

The head end 32 consists of two parts, adapter 55 and piece 56A (shown as made up of parts 56 and 58 which would be formed integrally) held together by a machine screw 53. Optionally a threepiece assembly 55, 56 and 58 may be used, where parts 56 and 58 are separate pieces. In either case, an upper inner roller 51 and a lower inner roller 54 are loosely captivated intermediate the ends of the assembly and extend above the surface thereof. These are designated as inner because they operate within the tubular stock 18 when it is drawn over the head end 32. Also within the stock 18, operating to open or dilate the flat stock, is a spreader 57 secured on the tip of the head 32 and having smooth contoured wings 59.

As the flat stock opens it passes over the head 32 and rollers 51, 54, and thence over the adapter 55 and finally the tube 52. This is a manually performed operation as will be described later.

The control center 38 consists of an open rectangular frame comprising a lower roller mount 60 and an upper roller mount 62 as best shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. The upper mount 62 is held to the lower mount 60 by knurled clamping nuts 64. The lower mount 60 is mounted upon a pivot post 66 coincident with the vertical center line of the control center 38. This post 66 is secured to a clamp block 68 on a crosspiece 70 which depends from horizontal journals 72 in the upper ends of the yoke 36 of the machine frame 10.

With special reference to FIG. 5, it should be noted that the drawsleeve assembly 34 is captured by the outwardly protruding rollers 51 and 54 of the head 32 even though these parts are covered by the tubular stock 18. This is done by providing embracing rollers 74, 76 (upper outside) and a pair, reference numeral 76 (lower outside). The outside nomenclature refers to their operating exteriorly of the tubular stock 18.

When the upper roller mount 62 is firmly pressed down so that it engages pins 80 in its notches 82, the head 32 is initially centered with the axis of the journals 72 by adjusting threaded rod assemblies 84 on which the control center 33 swings. It will be noted the latter is free to swivel and tilt when the drawsleeve assembly 34 is raised from its cradle or yoke 40 without unduly distorting the flow of tubular stock 18 over the head end 32 because the pivoting is centered there.

The machine is prepared for service by pushing the tubular stock 18 all the way over the tube 52 and extending over a finger notch 86 cut in its end.

In operation an article to be wrapped, 88, such as a rug, curtain or the like is rolled up and inserted into the tube 52 (see FIG. 9). The article 88 and tubular stock 18 are grasped together by the fingers at the notch 86 and both are drawn from the tube 52. This pulls more stock from the supply roll on spool assembly 42 onwardly over the spreader 56, the head 32, and tube 52, ready for the insertion of the next article 88. Although this action may tend to pull the drawsleeve assembly 34 in the same direction, the control center 38 effectively retains it in position.

The tubular stock 18 is cut with scissors at the end of each article when it is withdrawn and the stock tucked inside or heat sealed or tied in a pucker as desired.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for encasing an elongated article in a slip-over wrapper, comprising an elongated hollow member for receiving said wrapper as an envelope and for housing said elongated article and having an opening at one end for permitting simultaneous withdrawal of said elongated article and said Wrapper from said elongated member to obtain encasement of said article, roller means mounted to said elongated member for engaging the interior of said wrapper, and stationary roller means for engaging the exterior of said Wrapper in embracing relationship with respect to said first mentioned roller means to thereby anchor said elongated member, said elongated member including a head end and consisting of two sections and means for clamping said two sections together, with said first mentioned roller means each having a journal shaft element encompassed by the junction of said two sections to thereby obtain mounting of said roller means.

2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said first mentioned roller means consists of upper and lower pairs of rollers.

3. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said head end is of smaller diameter than the said one end of said elongated member.

4. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said head end includes a spreader element positioned at one end for facilitating the insertion of said Wrapper thereover.

5. Apparatus for encasing an elongated article in a slipover wrapper, comprising a frame structure, an elongated hollow member for receiving said wrapper as an envelope and for housing said elongated article and having an opening atone end for permitting simultaneous withdrawal of said elongated article and said wrapper from said elongated member to obtain encasement of said article, means for removably supporting said elongated member adjacent said one end thereof to said frame structure, and means for pivotally mounting the other end of said elongated member to said frame structure, with the pivotal mounting means including roller elements mounted to said elongated member for engaging the interior of said wrapper and additional roller elements mounted thereto for engaging the exterior of said wrapper in embracing relationship with respect to said first mentioned roller elements to thereby anchor said elongated member from longitudinal movement.

6. The apparatus as recited in claim 5 wherein the pivot axis of said pivotal mounting means is substantially perpendicular, with respect to the axis of said elongated member, to the wrapper which is encompassed by said first mentioned and said additional roller elements, whereby said elongated member can be pivoted away from the removable support means without distortion of said Wrapper along said elongated member.

7. The apparatus as recited in claim 6 and additionally, means rotatably mounted to said frame structure for supplying a roll of said wrapper.

8. The apparatus as recited in claim 7 and additionally, means for guiding the wrapper from said rotatably mounted means to said elongated member.

9. The apparatus as recited in claim 5 wherein said one end of said elongated member has a notch to permit said wrapper to contact said article when housed by said elongated member.

13. The apparatus as recited in claim 5 wherein said pivotal mounting means includes a support structure having said additional roller elements journalled thereto, a pair of vertically adjustable elements pivotally mounted to said frame structure and depending on opposite sides of said support structure, and structure securing said support structure on an axis substantially coincident with its vertical centerline to said frame structure.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 131,841 10/1872 Bibby et al. 93--12 2,021,338 11/1935 Struve 53255 2,110,939 3/1938 Orstrom 93--12 3,058,273 10/1962 Forman et al 53-390 X TRAVIS S. MCGEHEE, Primary Examiner.

FRANK E. BAILEY, Examiner.

R. L. FARRIS, Assistant Examiner. 

1. APPARATUS FOR ENCASING AN ELONGATED ARTICLE IN A SLIP-OVER WRAPPER, COMPRISING AN ELONGATED HOLLOW MEMBER FOR RECEIVING SAID WRAPPER AS AN ENVELOPE AND FOR HOUSING SAID ELONGATED ARTICLE AND HAVING AN OPENING AT ONE END FOR PERMITTING SIMULTANEOUS WITHDRAWL OF SAID ELONGATED ARTICLE AND SAID WRAPPER FROM SAID ELONGATED MEMBER TO OBTAIN ENCASEMENT OF SAID ARTICLE, ROLLER MEANS MOUNTED TO SAID ELONGATED MEMBER FOR ENGAGING THE INTERIOR OF SAID WRAPPER, AND STATIONARY ROLLER MEANS FOR ENGAGING THE EXTERIOR OF SAID WRAPPER IN EMBRACING RELATIONSHIP WITH RESPECT TO SAID FIRST MENTIONED ROLLER MEANS TO THEREBY ANCHOR SAID ELONGATED MEMBER, SAID ELONGATED MEMBER INCLUDING A HEAD END AND CONSISTING OF TWO SECTIONS AND MEANS FOR CLAMPING SAID TWO SECTIONS TOGETHER, WITH SAID FIRST MENTIONED ROLLER MEANS EACH HAVING A JOURNAL SHAFT ELEMENT ENCOMPASSED BY THE JUNCTION OF SAID TWO SECTIONS TO THEREBY OBTAIN MOUNTING OF SAID ROLLER MEANS. 